Wire stretcher



Sept. 15, 1931. LITTLE 1,823,054

WIRE STRETCHER Filed Sept. 22, 1930 ammo 0 M w @4534 Patented Sept. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES GEORGE LITTLE, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT WIRE STRET CHER Application filed September 22, 1930. Serial No. 483,450.

This invention relates to improvements in wire stretchers.

The main object of the invention is to provide a wire stretcher which may be used with equal facility for stretching fence wires and holding the same while they are fastened to the fence posts or for drawing the ends of broken wires together and holding them while they are connected together.

Another object is to provide a wire stretcher of the above character in a simple, efficient and durable form.

The foregoing and other objects together with means whereby the same may be carried into effect will best be understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the wire stretcher in use in drawing the ends of two wires together.

Figure 2 is an edge view of the stretcher partly broken away.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the movable wire carrier.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings the reference numeral 1 designates a handle of elongated fiat, bar form suitably shaped at one end to provide a grip or gripping portion 2. The handle 1 may be ill constructed of any desired length and at its forward or operating end is depressed at 3 to provide an attaching ear 1 the upper face of which lies substantially in the same plane as the lower face of the handle itself. A wire gripping cam 5 is eccentrically pivoted on the ear 4 by the screw 6 and is provided with an operating handle 7.

A wire carrier 8 is provided and the same comprises a U-shaped handle receiving member formed by the spaced fingers 9 and 10 connected at one end by the base 11 in such manner that a cleft 12 is provided to receive the said handle 1. An attaching plate or ear 13 is cast integrally with the fingers 9 and 10 and lies in the same plane as the last named finger 10, the said plate being in effect an extension of the finger. The carrier 8 is slidably mounted on the handle 1 with the fingers 9 and 10 passing across each side thereof and a roller 1 1 is journaled in the open mouth of the cleft 12 by the axle or shaft 15 which is passed through apertures 16 provided near the ends of the fingers 9 and 10 for this purpose. The roller 1 1 serves to hold the carrier 8 on the handle 1 and serves as a bearing upon which the carrier may bemoved backwardor forward on the handle in the manipulation of the tool as will be hereinafter described. A wire gripping cam 17 is excentrically pivoted by the screw 18 on the attaching plate or ear 13 on the carrier 8, and, like the aforementioned gripping cam 5 this cam 17 is alsoprovided with an operating handle as at 19. The wire gripping peripheries or faces of the cams 5 and 17 are preferably serrated or knurled in the usual manner as shown at 20. An upwardly extended lug 21 is provided on the attaching plate 13 at the end thereof re} mote from the fingers 9 and 10 and in such '70 position relative to the cam 17 that the edge thereof will engage the face of the lug 21 as the cam is turned to its wire gripping position. A plurality of spaced, angularly cut notches 22 are cut in theedge of the handle 1 in such position that the base 11 of the fingers 9 and 10 may rest in any of the notches as shown and for a purpose to be described.

In use and for drawing the ends of the wires A and B (Figure 1) together the wire A is first gripped near its end between the gripping cam 5 and the face of the lateral offset 3 of the handle 1. Thehandle 1 is then swung over toward the .wire B and the carrier 8 is moved back upon the handle 1 until it lies in such position that the end of the wire B may be secured between the cam 17 and the lug 21 at a point near its end. The carrier 8 is then held in this position by I engaging the inner rear edge 23 of the base 11 with one of the notches 22. The handle 1 is then swung back toward the wire A using its point of attachment to that wire as a fulcrum until the handle 1 rests substantially at a right angle to the length of the wires being stretched. This action draws the ends of the wires towards each other and the carrier 8 is then pushed forwardly on the handle 1 to the position shown in Figure 1 moving the ends of the wires A and B laterally to- 1 rocking it upon the handle.

gether into substantially axial alignment as shown. The ends of the wires between the gripping cams 5 and 17 may then be twisted together in any suitable manner by the fingers or by the use of pliers. The depressed position of the ear 4: on the handle 1 and the arrangement of the attaching plate 13 of the carrier 8 in alignment with the finger 10 causes the said ear and attaching plate to lie in the same plane so that the wires A and B held by the gripping cams 5 and 17 will rest in the same horizontal plane when they are drawn together thus facilitating the connection of the wires as will be understood. The stretcher may be readily detached from the'wires leaving them tightly stretched and secured together as will be understood. The notches 22 prevent the carrier 8 from slipping back toward the handle in the operation of the stretcher yet the carrier may be readily disengaged from the notches by slightly wire to a fence post the gripping cam 17 is engaged with the wlre and the ear 1 1s engaged with the post to serve as a fulcrum while the WlI'QJS stretched in a manner similar to the here nbefore descrlbed operatlon.

Further uses of the stretcher will be apparent and it will be evident that I have provided a very efficient and simple tool for its purpose.

While I have herein set forth a certain preferred embodiment of'my invention it is understood that I may vary from the same in minor structural details so as best to construct a practical device for the purposes intended, not departing from the spirit of theinvention and within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim: V V In a Wire stretcher, an elongated handle having spaced notches along one edge, a depressed attaching ear on one end of the handle, wire gripping means mounted upon the I sald attaching ear, a carrlercomprising spaced fingers slidably embracing the said handle, a roller journaled. between the ends of the said fingers and adapted to roll upon one Y edge of the said handle, the opposite ends of the said fingers being connected by a base adapted to engage the saidnotches in the handle, an attaching plate extended from one of the said fingers and lylng 1n the same plane as the said depressed ear on the handle,

and wire gripping means mounted on the said attaching plate.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature. I

GEORGE LITTLE.

In stretching a 

